Different take on Beane vs McDermott situation

[strive_for_five_guy]

4 minutes ago, Magox said:

If this is true, this gives me a very uneasy feeling about things moving forward.   I don't believe I have felt as much angst finishing a season in any time as this one.  We all feel the pressure, we have not just a unicorn but THE unicorn of unicorns in Josh Allen and no Superbowl.  5 years ago, in my mind it was a 99% surety that the Bills were going to win a Superbowl, now I view it as 50/50.  Time in a ticking and despite McDermott's flaws, he has steadily been improving, his aggressiveness and willingness to change certain things have happened.   

 

Again if this reporting is true, the fact that Beane and now some media figures that appear to be parroting his line that the problem wasn't lack of blue chippers but coaching is very disconcerting.  

 

The media better ask very difficult questions to Beane this upcoming presser.  They need to press him about the lack of pass rushing and boundary receiver talent.  Also, I get that Josh Allen should have a say and his voice heard but they need to make sure that they don't go primarily what Josh wants in selecting their next head coach.   The main problem has been the defense, not the offense.  So I want to know what their process is going to be in making sure that their next head coach gets the right DC in place, for me that is the most critical piece out of the entire coaching selection.  Who will be the coach of the defense and what will be their governing philosophy.

 

 

I would say McD’s assessment was wrong.  They were a play away from playing the Pats to go to the Super Bowl, who we beat this season.  How can you

have him as the coach if five weeks ago he’s complaining they don’t have enough, rather than figuring out how to win with what he does have?

[YoloinOhio]

21 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

We still don’t know who had final say over the roster or the draft.  The past 48 hours would suggest Mcdermott did and that’s why he was fired and Beane was promoted and given more power.  

I don’t know if McDermott had final say over the 53 on paper but he seemed to control every aspect of everything so ofc he was very involved in personnel and the draft. 

Edited January 20 by YoloinOhio

[Wayne Cubed]

I don't think you need to blame on more than the other? They both have their warts. McD is set on his guys and how his system works, except that system has repeatedly failed. Beane, without a background in scouting, has really not identifyed that many game changing players. Great finding value in the later rounds but pretty mid in finding elite talent in the top part of the draft.

 

Also, I wouldn't trust Pegula to pick a new GM and HC considering his track record and hiring Rex Ryan. I think someone with some football background needs to be there helping him.

[BCAS Baritone]

Just now, YoloinOhio said:

I don’t know if McDermott had final say over the 53 but he seemed to control every aspect of everything so ofc he was very involved in personnel and the draft 

I've always heard that Beane was the one with control over the final 53.  Maybe that wasn't true but that was the company line.

[longtimebillsfan]

40 minutes ago, streetkings01 said:

I’ll start by saying I agree with most people: if you fire one, they probably should’ve both been fired as a package deal. Where I’m conflicted is who deserves most of the blame. I lean toward McDermott, and here’s why.

 

Timeline matters:

 

2017: McDermott hires Rick Dennison as OC, then fires him after one season.

2018: McDermott hires Daboll and drafts Josh Allen. Early on, the offense clearly lacks weapons.

2019: Beane responds by signing John Brown and Cole Beasley, and drafting Ford, Singletary, and Knox. Beane openly acknowledges the need to surround Allen with talent—and he does.

2020: The team decides it still lacks a true WR1, trades for Diggs, and drafts Moss, Davis, and Bass. Allen takes a massive leap. The season ends with a loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship.

2021: Sanders is brought in as the WR2, Trubisky as the backup, Breida is added, and Spencer Brown is drafted. Reports of friction between McDermott and Daboll surface. Daboll leaves for the Giants job.

2022: Cook and Shakir are drafted, Crowder is signed.

2023: After a 5–5 start, McDermott fires Dorsey and promotes Joe Brady. The offense shifts to a more run-heavy approach, and Diggs’ and the receivers’ production dips.

2024–2025: The team leans fully into the “everyone eats” philosophy, doubles down on a run-heavy offense, drafts a big physical WR, and prioritizes a run-blocking TE.

 

 

That’s where my issue lies.

 

Looking at this timeline, it seems clear that Beane consistently acquired players based on how McDermott wanted the offense constructed. When McDermott wanted weapons, Beane went out and got them. When the philosophy shifted to a run-heavy approach, Beane adjusted and brought in players that fit that mold.

 

You can absolutely argue that Beane chose the wrong players—but it’s hard to argue that he didn’t choose the right type of players for what the head coach wanted to do.

 

To me, that’s where the real friction likely started. It feels like Beane saying: I gave you what you asked for—on offense and defense—and you didn’t maximize it.

 

And while the execution can be debated, the roster construction largely followed McDermott’s vision. That’s why, if blame has to be weighted, I think it tilts more toward McDermott than Beane.

That is a fair assessment.   

 

Thank you.

[PauleeeWalnuts]

10 minutes ago, Magox said:

If this is true, this gives me a very uneasy feeling about things moving forward.   I don't believe I have felt as much angst finishing a season in any time as this one.  We all feel the pressure, we have not just a unicorn but THE unicorn of unicorns in Josh Allen and no Superbowl.  5 years ago, in my mind it was a 99% surety that the Bills were going to win a Superbowl, now I view it as 50/50.  Time in a ticking and despite McDermott's flaws, he has steadily been improving, his aggressiveness and willingness to change certain things have happened.   

 

Again if this reporting is true, the fact that Beane and now some media figures that appear to be parroting his line that the problem wasn't lack of blue chippers but coaching is very disconcerting.  

 

The media better ask very difficult questions to Beane this upcoming presser.  They need to press him about the lack of pass rushing and boundary receiver talent.  Also, I get that Josh Allen should have a say and his voice heard but they need to make sure that they don't go primarily what Josh wants in selecting their next head coach.   The main problem has been the defense, not the offense.  So I want to know what their process is going to be in making sure that their next head coach gets the right DC in place, for me that is the most critical piece out of the entire coaching selection.  Who will be the coach of the defense and what will be their governing philosophy.

 

 

So Beane had his feelings hurt because McD was honest about the holes in the roster in front of the owner. 

[YoloinOhio]

2 minutes ago, BCAS Baritone said:

I've always heard that Beane was the one with control over the final 53.  Maybe that wasn't true but that was the company line.

He did on paper. 

[harmonkillebrew]

Agree. the offensive philosophy shift had to be led by McD/Brady and not Beane. I'm wondering if we go back to a more explosive offense, even bring back Daboll.

 

I also soured on McDermott this year with the inexcusable regular season losses that kept us from winning the division. That gave us a much tougher road. We should have had the #1 seed, but the team was not focused and disciplined. Time to bring that back. 

[PauleeeWalnuts]

11 minutes ago, Magox said:

If this is true, this gives me a very uneasy feeling about things moving forward.   I don't believe I have felt as much angst finishing a season in any time as this one.  We all feel the pressure, we have not just a unicorn but THE unicorn of unicorns in Josh Allen and no Superbowl.  5 years ago, in my mind it was a 99% surety that the Bills were going to win a Superbowl, now I view it as 50/50.  Time in a ticking and despite McDermott's flaws, he has steadily been improving, his aggressiveness and willingness to change certain things have happened.   

 

Again if this reporting is true, the fact that Beane and now some media figures that appear to be parroting his line that the problem wasn't lack of blue chippers but coaching is very disconcerting.  

 

The media better ask very difficult questions to Beane this upcoming presser.  They need to press him about the lack of pass rushing and boundary receiver talent.  Also, I get that Josh Allen should have a say and his voice heard but they need to make sure that they don't go primarily what Josh wants in selecting their next head coach.   The main problem has been the defense, not the offense.  So I want to know what their process is going to be in making sure that their next head coach gets the right DC in place, for me that is the most critical piece out of the entire coaching selection.  Who will be the coach of the defense and what will be their governing philosophy.

 

 

So Beane had his feelings hurt because McD was honest about the holes in the roster in front of the owner. 

11 minutes ago, Magox said:

If this is true, this gives me a very uneasy feeling about things moving forward.   I don't believe I have felt as much angst finishing a season in any time as this one.  We all feel the pressure, we have not just a unicorn but THE unicorn of unicorns in Josh Allen and no Superbowl.  5 years ago, in my mind it was a 99% surety that the Bills were going to win a Superbowl, now I view it as 50/50.  Time in a ticking and despite McDermott's flaws, he has steadily been improving, his aggressiveness and willingness to change certain things have happened.   

 

Again if this reporting is true, the fact that Beane and now some media figures that appear to be parroting his line that the problem wasn't lack of blue chippers but coaching is very disconcerting.  

 

The media better ask very difficult questions to Beane this upcoming presser.  They need to press him about the lack of pass rushing and boundary receiver talent.  Also, I get that Josh Allen should have a say and his voice heard but they need to make sure that they don't go primarily what Josh wants in selecting their next head coach.   The main problem has been the defense, not the offense.  So I want to know what their process is going to be in making sure that their next head coach gets the right DC in place, for me that is the most critical piece out of the entire coaching selection.  Who will be the coach of the defense and what will be their governing philosophy.

 

 

So Beane had his feelings hurt because McD was honest about the holes in the roster in front of the owner. 

[streetkings01]

I just feel like every season we had to morph into a different offense…..this isn’t the Brady era Patriots. That falls on the HC. It just felt like to me McDermott was bipolar when it came to what he wanted on offense and as a GM that’s extremely hard to work with. I could be 100% wrong on this, but that seem like part of the friction between Beane and McDermott.

[PauleeeWalnuts]

18 minutes ago, Magox said:

If this is true, this gives me a very uneasy feeling about things moving forward.   I don't believe I have felt as much angst finishing a season in any time as this one.  We all feel the pressure, we have not just a unicorn but THE unicorn of unicorns in Josh Allen and no Superbowl.  5 years ago, in my mind it was a 99% surety that the Bills were going to win a Superbowl, now I view it as 50/50.  Time in a ticking and despite McDermott's flaws, he has steadily been improving, his aggressiveness and willingness to change certain things have happened.   

 

Again if this reporting is true, the fact that Beane and now some media figures that appear to be parroting his line that the problem wasn't lack of blue chippers but coaching is very disconcerting.  

 

The media better ask very difficult questions to Beane this upcoming presser.  They need to press him about the lack of pass rushing and boundary receiver talent.  Also, I get that Josh Allen should have a say and his voice heard but they need to make sure that they don't go primarily what Josh wants in selecting their next head coach.   The main problem has been the defense, not the offense.  So I want to know what their process is going to be in making sure that their next head coach gets the right DC in place, for me that is the most critical piece out of the entire coaching selection.  Who will be the coach of the defense and what will be their governing philosophy.

 

 

So Beane had his feelings hurt because McD was honest about the holes in the roster in front of the owner, got it. 

Edited January 20 by PauleeeWalnuts

[BuffaloRebound]

1 minute ago, BCAS Baritone said:

I've always heard that Beane was the one with control over the final 53.  Maybe that wasn't true but that was the company line.

Beane getting a promotion would suggest he didn’t have final control, but we’re all just guessing.  

[Dinoman]

34 minutes ago, streetkings01 said:

We’ve also seen McDermott have friction with both defensive coordinators. At one point he took playcalling duties away from Frazier and Babbich. There is a pattern with McDermott and his coordinators. 

Both times he did, the D got better. Hard to complain about that.

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

Nobody knows the level of control either guy had on the roster. It sounds like the Coach was reporting to the owner. The issue is the Coach was here first. Nobody knows who Beane wanted that was overruled or how these personnel conversations went. Nobody knows who caused the Diggs situation to go the way it did. My guess is it wasn’t the guy that signed the deal and that had to deal with the cap destruction involved. Nobody knows who wanted the WR room how it was or why we continually drafted DLineman that couldn’t get home. Guys that can’t get home in this defense regardless. Let’s see what the team looks like this year before we place judgement and fault on things we don’t have information on 

Edited January 20 by Brianmoorman4jesus

[Mr. WEO]

25 minutes ago, BVBILLS said:

Also the Bills stopped bringing in experienced coordinators.

 

They are much harder to push under a bus...

[Strethor]

There was definitely a role in this, but at the end of the day its the GM's responsibility to get the best players that fit what the coach is asking for. If we are blaming the coach for the GM's picks what are we doing here. Of course there may be exceptions, like the 2017 draft for McD or the Elam pick or particular people that jumped out to our coach. But the GM reports to the owner, and should be first responsible for talent failures. This ownership channel was used to backstab McDermott, it's fine to take the perspective that the time was up and it didn't work

Edited January 20 by Strethor

[YoloinOhio]

Reminder - this is the level of control McD had 

 

 

[BillsFan130]

Beane definitely had to be frustrated with McDermott.

 

Look no further than Poona ford and Tim Settle. Those guys barely got a game day jersey when they were here , and now they are both meaningful pieces to good defences.

 

It is clear Beane felt like McDermott didn't maximize the talent, especially on the defensive side. In which I would agree with him 

 

 

Edited January 20 by BillsFan130

[streetkings01]

19 minutes ago, Magox said:

If this is true, this gives me a very uneasy feeling about things moving forward.   I don't believe I have felt as much angst finishing a season in any time as this one.  We all feel the pressure, we have not just a unicorn but THE unicorn of unicorns in Josh Allen and no Superbowl.  5 years ago, in my mind it was a 99% surety that the Bills were going to win a Superbowl, now I view it as 50/50.  Time in a ticking and despite McDermott's flaws, he has steadily been improving, his aggressiveness and willingness to change certain things have happened.   

 

Again if this reporting is true, the fact that Beane and now some media figures that appear to be parroting his line that the problem wasn't lack of blue chippers but coaching is very disconcerting.  

 

The media better ask very difficult questions to Beane this upcoming presser.  They need to press him about the lack of pass rushing and boundary receiver talent.  Also, I get that Josh Allen should have a say and his voice heard but they need to make sure that they don't go primarily what Josh wants in selecting their next head coach.   The main problem has been the defense, not the offense.  So I want to know what their process is going to be in making sure that their next head coach gets the right DC in place, for me that is the most critical piece out of the entire coaching selection.  Who will be the coach of the defense and what will be their governing philosophy.

 

 

Von Miller just had 9 sacks, Poona Ford has been a beast the past 2 seasons and Tim Settle starts on one of the best defenses in NFL history …..I’m just saying. 🤔

3 minutes ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

Nobody knows the level of control either guy had on the roster. It sounds like the Coach was reporting to the owner. The issue is the Coach was here first. Nobody knows who Beane wanted that was overruled or how these personnel conversations went. Nobody knows who caused the Diggs situation to go the way it did. My guess is it wasn’t the guy that signed the deal and that had to deal with the cap destruction involved. Nobody knows who wanted the WR room how it was or why we continually drafted DLineman that couldn’t get home. Guys that can’t get home in this defense regardless. Let’s see what the team looks like this year before we place judgement and fault on things we don’t have information on 

good take!

Edited January 20 by streetkings01

[Mr Info]

Apologies if this has already been posted elsewhere. This was posted a couple of years ago by Tyler Dunne and it was not rainbows and ice cream under McD. Perhaps this was underlying the dismissal of McD. 

https://www.golongtd.com/p/the-mcdermott-problem-part-i-blame